Poppet valve parameter optimization of a high frequency operating pump system

This article is focused on the development of a finite element model for capturing the fluid-structure interactions in a hybrid electro-hydraulic pump system. The system under study consists of a piezo-actuated piston and two passive poppet valves. A Finite Element Model has been developed which simulates the oscillatory fluid motion (compressible Navier-Stokes equations with standard k-e turbulence extensions) and incorporates an Arbitrary Lagrangian- Eulerian formulation to allow a deforming moving mesh. Through this moving mesh the fluid is capable of tracking the motion of the piston and valves, while a two-way interaction is applied to the surrounding rigid structure. The fluid pressure profile surrounding the solid regions is applied as a force load to the solid and the solid motion is transferred to the fluid domain as a mesh deformation. The simulation results offer useful insight on the pump's performance caused by changes in the: a) valves' spring stiffness and mass, and b) piston's operating frequency. A careful parametric optimization on certain pump's parameters yields a twofold increase in its performance at high frequencies (500 Hz).